Apparatus for controlling movement of objects

ABSTRACT

As described herein, a magnetic paper stop includes a relatively freely mounted roller armature mounted in the direction of document flow. The armature is adapted to be driven against and away from a solid surface by an associated solenoid to provide a controlled alignment barrier for the documents passing between the roller armature and the solid surface.

Stoller APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF OBJECTS [75] Inventor: Solomon Stoller, West Hartford,

Conn.

[73] Assignees: The Prudential Insurance Company of America; Randolph Computer Corporation [22] Filed: June 15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 263,001

52 us. Cl. 271/60 [51} Int. Cl. 1365b 9/06 [58] Field of Search 271/46, 60, 5O

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,974,952 3/1961 Zeuthen 271/60 X- 3,319,955 5/1967 Mastersonu. 271/60 3,356,364 12/1967 Grigereit 271/60 FORElGN PATENTS (9R APPLlCATlONS 685,698 l/l953 Great Britain 271/60 [111 3,787,045 1451 Jan. 22, 1974 OTHER PUBLICATIONS IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 10, No. I] 4-1968, Document Stop, E. L. Bailey IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 14, No. 3, 8197l, Document Card Registration Gate, Charlson et al.

Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner]ames W. Miller Attorney, Agent, or FirmGranville M. Brumbaugh et [57] ABSTRACT As described herein, a magnetic paper stop includes a relatively freely mounted roller armature mounted in the direction of document flow. The armature is adapted to be driven against and away from a solid surface by an associated solenoid to provide a controlled alignment barrier for the documents passing between the roller armature and the solid surface.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF OBJECTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to paper stop and alignstop device comprising a plurality of armature stop bars which are electromagnetically withdrawn in sequence from the cardpath. The Muller et al. U.S. Pat. No.

2,422,629, describes a device containing a ball that is secured in a manner permitting its rotation, but which prevents its withdrawal displacement. Other typical devices used to stop, align, or otherwise control the movement of documents are described in Van Benthuysen U.S. Pat. No. 555,422, Dexter U.S. Pat. No. 625,092, and Backhouse U.S. Pat. No. 2,135,206.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention is a paper stop mechanism which constitutes a marked improvement over prior art paper stop mechanisms. According to the present invention,.a magnetic paper stop comprises a relatively freely mounted roller armature which is adapted to be driven against and away from a solid surface by an associated electromagnet to provide a controlled alignment barrier for the documents passing between the roller and the solid surface. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, sets of the armature-electromagnet assembly are spaced along the direction of document flow to perform sequential stop and alignment functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The apparatus of the present invention is, further illustrated in the drawings which accompany and which form a portion of this specificationiwherein: 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional card feeding apparatus including magnetic paper stop mechanisms of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the magnetic paper stop of the present invention;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views showing the magnetic paper stop when activated just prior to contacting a document, just after contact, and after the roller has been deactivatedto allow the document to continue its movement along its line of travel, respectively; and

FIG. 6 is a horizontal view showing the means which are used to move the document along its line of travel in the type of apparatus of which the present magnetic paper stop mechanism forms a component part.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 'OF THE INVENTION area wherein the information is detected. The present invention is particularly useful in optical character recognition systems of the type disclosed in copending apthe present invention. In order to insure accurate placement of the documentsduring the scanning or detection thereof, it is necessary to align the leading edges of the cards. The apparatus of the present invention performs the alignment function.

In particular, the device comprises a housing 11 forming an integral part of the character recognition scanning equipment. A first flow path for documents 12 is defined by an angular support surface 13 and a cover member 14. A plurality of drive rollers 15 are mounted in the cover member 14.and function to drive the documents 12 through the housing 11 from the first inclined flow path to a second horizontal flow path. The documents may be carried through the second flow path by vacuum belts or the like type of conveyor devices (not shown).

In order to stop and properly align the cards in their travel through the first and second flow paths, there are provided two spaced banks 16 and 18 of magnetic paper stops of the present invention; Each bank includes three magnetic paper stops 16a, 16b, 16c and 18a, 18b and 18c, respectively. It is to be understood that the number of banks and the number of magnetic paper stops in each bank can be varied depending upon the type of documents being aligned and the desired orientation of the documents.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 5, each magnetic paper stop of the present invention comprises a support body 19 situated below the line of travel of the documents and within a recess formed in the supporting surface 13. The support 19 is preferably a solid cylindrical body, as shown in FIG. 2 and is mounted within the recess by means of a pair of bolts 20. g

Mounted around support body 19 for free movement is a hollow cylindrical body or armature 21 which is formed at least partially of a metal which is capable of being attracted by a magnetic field. The diameter of support body 19 is smaller'than the internal diameter of the opening in the annature 21 to permit the armature to rotate about the support 19 and to be driven upwardly in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the support 19. When driven upwardly, the armature 21 extends beyond the plane of the surface 13 and into the flow path of the documents 12 Associated with each armature is a solenoid 22. The solenoid is mounted in the cover member 14 immediately above the armature 21 to form a flat surface toward which the armature is attracted when the solenoid is energized. When energized, the solenoid 22 produces a magnetic field which will draw the armature 21- to it to form a constricted opening therebetween. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, forward motionof that portion of document 12 stop gradually upon impact with the freely mounted armature 21. Upon impact with the document 12, the armature 21 slides across the face of the solenoid 22 to permit a'gradual stopping of the document, as opposed to an undesirable abrupt-termination of the forward motion of the document. When the'document reaches the position shown in FIG. 4 it is held in secure engagement between the armature and the face of the solenoid 22, and cannot move.

In order to release the document, the solenoid 22 is de energized and the armature 21 falls to its quiescent position shown in FIG. 5. At this point, the document or object 12 is no longer blocked and the rotation of feed rollers 15 will propel it through the stop apparatus of the present invention and will allow it to continue its travel to other work stations.

As shown in FIG. 1, there are provided two stations 16 and 28, each including three magnetic stops 16a, 16b and 16c, and 18a, 18b and 180, respectively, arranged according to the present invention and mounted in a line transverse to the direction of document travel. In the operation of a document reading apparatus incorporating the stations 16 and 18, documents would be conveyed through their prescribed flow paths without intervention as long as the documents remained in alignment. The alignment can be monitored by conventional photocell detectors mounted within the housing 11 adjacent the magnetic paper stop stations 16 and 18.

in the event document misalignment is detected prior to the documents travel throughstation 16, the detector will supply energization current for a selected short period of time simultaneously to the solenoids of the three magnetic paper stops forming the station 16. The armatures associated with the solenoids are drawn toward the solid surfaces of the solenoids and align the document by gradually terminating the forward motion ofthe document. Once the document is aligned the momentary energization current for the solenoids is terminated and the document is permitted to continue to move in its prescribed flow path through the second bank 18 of magnetic paper stops. In the event the document becomes misaligned before reaching the second bank 18 of the magnetic paper stops, the magnetic paper stops of the bank will be momentarily energized to properly align the document in its travel to the second prescribed flow path.

Upon reading the foregoing, a person of ordinary skill in the art will become aware of modifications that.

can be made in the apparatus of the present invention. Hence, it is intended that the foregoing is merely illustrative of the apparatus and is not to be taken as limiting. The apparatus is defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. An apparatus for controlling the movement of material moving in a prescribed flow path in a material feeding apparatus comprising:

a. a relatively freely mounted roller armature having an open bore therethrough and being mounted on a support body located within the bore, the diameter of the support body being smaller than the diameter of the bore in the roller, said roller armature being mounted on one side of the prescribed flow path for the material, and b. electromagnetic means mounted on the other side of the prescribed flow path for selectively drawing the roller armature into the prescribed flow path to thereby provide a controllable barrier for the material passing between the armature and the electromagnetic means. 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic means to move said freely mounted armature comprises a solenoid which when energized attracts the armature into the material flow path.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein movement of the freely mounted armature into the line of travel of the material brings it to a position in closer proximity to a wall located on the other side of the line of travel of the material to thereby form a constricted opening which blocks continued movement of the material.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which comprises a plurality of freely mounted roller armatures and associated electromagnetic means located in a single line transverse to the direction of material flow.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the number of roller armatures and associated electromagnetic means is three.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises a second line containing a plurality of roller armatures and associated electromagnetic means located transverse to the direction of material flow.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the number of roller armatures and associated electromagnetic means in the second line is three.

8. An apparatus for moving material in a prescribed flow path in a material feeding apparatus comprising:

a. means to confine the material within a prescribed flow path;

b. means to move the material along the prescribed flow path; and

0. means to control the movement of the material in the prescribed flow path, said means comprising:

i. a relatively freely mounted roller armature mounted on one side of the prescribed flow path for the material, said armature having an open bore therethrough and being mounted on a support body located within the bore, the diameter of the support body being smaller than the diameter of the bore in the roller, and

ii. electromagnetic means mounted on the other side of the prescribed flow path for selectively drawing the roller armature into the prescribed flow path to thereby provide a controllable barrier for the material passing between the armature and the electromagnetic means.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 which comprises a plurality of means for controlling the movement of the material in a single straight line transverse to the direction of movement of the material.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 which further comprises a second straight line, containing a plurality of means for controlling material movement, said line also being transverse to the direction of movement of the material. 

1. An apparatus for controlling the movement of material moving in a prescribed flow path in a material feeding apparatus comprising: a. a relatively freely mounted roller armature having an open bore therethrough and being mounted on a support body located within the bore, the diameter of the support body being smaller than the diameter of the bore in the roller, said roller armature being mounted on one side of the prescribed flow path for the material, and b. electromagnetic means mounted on the other side of the prescribed flow path for selectively drawing the roller armature into the prescribed flow path to thereby provide a controllable barrier for the material passing between the armature and the electromagnetic means.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic means to move said freely mounted armature comprises a solenoid which when energized attracts the armature into the material flow path.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein movement of the freely mounted armature into the line of travel of the material brings it to a position in closer proximity to a wall located on the other side of the line of travel of the material to thereby form a constricted opening which blocks continued movement of the material.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which comprises a plurality of freely mounted roller armatures and associated electromagnetic means located in a single line transverse to the direction of material flow.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the number of roller armatures and associated electromagnetic means is three.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises a second line containing a plurality of roller armatures and associated electromagnetic means located transverse to the direction of material flow.
 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the number of roller armatures and associated electromagnetic means in the second line is three.
 8. An apparatus for moving material in a prescribed flow path in a material feeding apparatus comprising: a. means to confine the material within a prescribed flow path; b. means to move the material along the prescribed flow path; and c. means to control the movement of the material in the prescribed flow path, said means comprising: i. a relatively freely mounted roller armature mounted on one side of the prescribed flow path for the material, said armature having an open bore therethrough and being mounted on a support body located within the bore, the diameter of the support body being smaller than the diameter of the bore in the roller, and ii. electromagnetic means mounted on the other side of the prescribed flow path for selectively drawing the roller armature into the prescribed flow path to thereby provide a controllable barrier for the material passing between the armature and the electromagnetic means.
 9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 which comprises a plurality of means for controlling the movement of the material in a single straight line transverse to the direction of movement of the material.
 10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 which further comprises a second straight line, containing a plurality of means for controlling material movement, said line also being transverse to the direction of movement of the material. 